6. THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RESPONSIBLE
AUTHORITIES UNDER NASSO

92. The
MAPPA guidance sets out the roles and
responsibilities of the Responsible Authorities under
MAPPA. This section focuses on their roles and
responsibilities in assessing and managing housing-related risk
under this strategy.

93. Responsible Authorities and
RSLs must have a clear understanding of their
respective roles and responsibilities in the housing of sex
offenders under
MAPPA. They must also appreciate the
interdependence of their respective roles. Social housing providers
depend on an agreed Memorandum of Understanding, effective
information protocols and a co-ordinated approach by the
Responsible Authorities. Responsible Authorities must therefore
make sure that:

they consider the size and stock profile of landlords when
making decisions about housing; and

they respond effectively to ongoing issues of community
safety that housing providers identify.

What is the role of local authorities?

94. The
MAPPA guidance sets out the role of local
authorities. In relation to housing, the primary role of the
Criminal Justice Social Work supervising officer is to:

work with the Scottish Prison Service in arranging housing
for the prisoner on temporary home leave;

contribute to environmental risk assessments;

take part in discussions and decisions on the manageability
of housing options;

keep housing providers informed, through the
SOLO, of changes to the risk assessment and
management arrangements for the offender;

collaborate with the police and housing providers over
whether to act on information, for example by talking to the
offender about moving housing;

share information with the
SOLO and social housing providers;

consider whether to instruct an offender to reside somewhere
as part of a licence condition or as part of a Community Payback
Order which can have a residence requirement;

give the offender advice and help with issues raised during
the tenancy; and

play a leading role alongside other Responsible Authorities
in the media handling strategy as set out in the
MAPPA guidance, by dealing with routine and
emergency enquiries or concerns that are referred by housing
providers.

What is the role of the police?

95. The primary role of the police under the
NASSO is to:

agree protocols for sharing information with housing
providers;

contribute to environmental risk assessments;

take part in discussions and decisions on the manageability
of housing options;

keep housing providers informed, through the
SOLO, of changes to the risk assessment and
management arrangements for the offender;

collaborate with Criminal Justice Social Work and housing
providers over whether to act on information, for example by
talking to the offender about moving housing;

work with housing providers on any moves in and out of
housing by the offender;

play a leading role alongside other Responsible Authorities
in the media handling strategy set out in the
MAPPA guidance, by dealing with routine and
emergency enquiries or concerns that are referred by housing
providers; and

enforce offenders' obligations under the Sexual Offences Act
2003.

What is the role of the Scottish Prison Service?

96. For all prisoners, the Scottish Prison Service is
responsible for carrying out risk and needs assessments to manage
the prisoner during sentence and in preparation for pre-release
planning and release. Their role is set out in full in the
MAPPA guidance.

97. Under the
NASSO the primary role of the Scottish Prison
Service is to:

have responsible person(s) within the Scottish Prison
Service, either nationally or at the local prison level;

work with the Responsible Authorities and
SOLOs to make arrangements for the housing
needs of the offender to be addressed at the earliest stage of
the custodial sentence, where there is any indication that
housing is a potential issue. This is likely to be needed, for
example, in the cases of offenders:

who cannot return to their home address or home area (in
some cases this will be because the Prison Governor will not
allow it or because the police, social work and/or housing
provider advise against it);

who are disowned by their family;

who are returning to an area near to their victims
(especially serious cases);

whose offence has acquired public notoriety/media
attention;

who are homeless or have no approved address for temporary
home leave or whose home leave address may be outwith
Scotland;

where there are concerns about child protection, domestic
abuse or vulnerable adults; and

who need housing with support, which is not yet
available;

identify, in partnership with the Responsible Authorities and
social housing providers, housing for the prisoner on temporary
home leave from custody. The Scottish Government has published
guidance on home leave for prisoners, "
Integrated Practice Guidance For Staff Involved In The Home
Leave Process":
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/09112100/0

fund temporary home leave accommodation under the above
practice guidance on home leave.

What is the role of the
NHS?

98. In relation to housing, health boards (and Special Health
Boards) work in partnership with housing providers and other
agencies in providing services for sex offenders and restricted
patients under
MAPPA. The
MAPPA guidance sets out their role in more
detail.

What is the role of Strategic Oversight Groups?

99. Section 11 of the 2005 Act requires the Responsible
Authorities to monitor the operation of
MAPPA, making changes to improve effectiveness
where required. The Responsible Authorities in each
MAPPA area also have to jointly publish an
annual report on the discharge of their
MAPPA functions, and submit the report to the
Community Justice Authority who will present it to Scottish
Ministers.

100. The role of the Strategic Oversight Group in each
MAPPA area is set out in the
MAPPA guidance. In relation to housing the role
of the Strategic Oversight Group is to:

provide a forum where issues between and among Responsible
Authorities and duty to co-operate agencies can be discussed and
resolved; and

address any issues around the concentration in particular
locations of sex offenders under
MAPPA.

101. Under
MAPPA, Strategic Oversight Groups are also
responsible for liaison and communication, both within
MAPPA and with other local multi-agency
structures designed to protect the public and raising public
awareness of the management of offenders subject to
MAPPA processes.